United States condemns alleged sexual abuse of Palestinian inmates

The United States condemned allegations of sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners by Israeli military members, calling the reports “horrific” and urging for a thorough investigation. The White House expressed deep concern over the reports and emphasized the need to treat detainees humanely in accordance with international law. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that five soldiers remain in detention for allegations of “serious abuse.” Additionally, a report by B’Tselem detailed instances of sexual violence by soldiers and prison guards against Palestinian detainees. The U.N. released a report in April detailing cases of sexual abuse against detainees, including the use of hot metal sticks. The U.N. special rapporteur on torture called on Israel to investigate such cases. Israeli authorities detained reservists for allegedly abusing prisoners, leading to protests and heightened scrutiny of the treatment of Palestinian detainees. In a parliamentary meeting, a lawmaker suggested that inserting a stick into a person’s rectum is legitimate if the detainee is a Hamas militant, sparking controversy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly addressed these comments or the abuse allegations. The situation has brought attention to systemic abuse of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.

Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com